What would the Fourth of July be without a barbecue? So we're serving up feast, in true molecular-biology fashion.

Pulling out the old charcoal barbecue from the garage and grilling hamburgers,
steaks, and corn is an American tradition on the Fourth of July. Just make
sure you save room for the Oregon blue cheese chocolate cake for dessert.
Seriously, it's a recipe scientifically guaranteed by the modern art of
molecular gastronomy to please your palate, as our Tech News writer Jeffrey
Perkel recently found out.

Here are some favorite BBQ-inspired news and research articles. Source: Flickr, thebittenword.com

So as you prepare to roast some hot dogs and marshmallows over you Bunsen
burners this Independence Day, feast on some our favorite BBQ-inspired news
stories and research articles.

A George Foreman Grill, a Few Steaks, and A Vegan

Biology’s Dark Passenger

Kristie Nybo, Ph.D.

When Stan Hazen began to pursue the connection between TMAO, bacteria, and the development of heart disease, he started with the purchase of a George Foreman grill, a few steaks, some eggs, and recruiting a vegan to eat an eight-ounce steak in the name of science. Read more...

Rotisserie Hybridization Apparatus

Construction of a Rotisserie Hybridization Apparatus

Simon Wong

How do you make an inexpensive hybridizer for washing membranes for Southern, northern, western, and northwestern analysis? With repurposing parts from a retail barbecue rotisserie motor, of course. Learn how...

Papaya Sprinkled with Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese

The New Molecular Gastronomy, or, a Gustatory Tour of Network Analysis

Jeffrey M. Perkel, Ph.D.

On a hot afternoon in June, Jeff and his family sat down to sample three dishes. Raspberry and kalamata olive tapenade with lemon zest and balsamic vinegar on crostini with prosciutto; chunks of papaya sprinkled with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and seared with a torch; and Oregon bleu cheese chocolate cake topped with a bleu cheese and cream cheese frosting. Which ones tasted surprizingly good (as predicted by science)? Find out...